CHELSEA marked their sunshine-infused 120th birthday with a hard-earned win against Leicester.

Enzo Maresca’s side keep their place in the Champions League spots ahead of a tough run of games with a much-needed 1-0 victory.

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Marc Cucurella scored from distance[/caption]

AP

The three points takes Chelsea to fourth in the table[/caption]

Rex

Cole Palmer’ goal drought continued as he saw his spot-kick saved[/caption]

Chelsea were by far the most threatening side and just two minutes in the Blues felt they should have had a penalty for a challenge on Palmer.

VAR deemed it “minimal contact”, however, it didn’t take long for him to get a golden chance to break his eight-game goal drought.

Referee Tim Robinson pointed to the spot this time after Jadon Sancho was brought down in the box.

Palmer stepped up, but his effort was brilliantly saved by Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen.

Chelsea continued to dominate but Maresca left ruing his lack of a target forward as crosses were swung aimlessly with Pedro Neto in the wars trying to reach them. 

With no real threat coming towards Robert Sanchez from Leicester, it looked as though it could be one of those games where they struggle to break down a side despite having the lion’s share of the ball. 

A moment of magic was needed as frustrations were growing and Marc Cucurella produced it on the hour mark.

A peach of a strike from outside the area as he lit up Stamford Bridge, as he has on numerous occasions this season, scoring for the second game in a row. 

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With chances coming and going for both sides, the nervousness among the home support was tangible as the game drew to it’s conclusion, with the relief at the full-time etched on Maresca’s face.

This is how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the players…

Robert Sanchez – 7

Maresca insisted he has two good goalkeepers at his disposal in the build-up to this game, but with the way they have performed this season you have to wonder if he is almost willing that to be true. 

Was very nearly in the headlines again with a moment of madness seeing him come flailing towards a cross which he missed as Tosin Adarabioyo headed onto his own bar.

The Spanish stopper was sparsely troubled but was there when it mattered to stop the Foxes from scoring with a quietly assured performance on his return to the side after the aforementioned mistake.

Wesley Fofana –  8

His every touch was loudly booed by the Leicester fans who are still bitter about him leaving them in August 2022, but the £70million defender wasn’t at all fazed on his return from a lengthy injury lay-off. 

He was playing at right-back in a role that was quite different to what we usually see from Reece James or Malo Gusto, basically forming a back three with Tosin and Levi Colwill. 

The Frenchman looked like he hadn’t been out injured at all, making a number of big tackles, blocks and clearances that manufactured a sound defensive display. 

Tosin Adarabioyo – 6

Was extremely fortunate not to put the ball in his own net with a header that bounced off of the crossbar midway into the first-half, but aside from that it was more of the same we have come to expect from the leader of the Chelsea defence. 

He takes on the important role of vocally organising the backline and setting them up to play it out from the back. 

Levi Colwill – 7

Levi is using Chelsea’s fixtures against the teams towards the bottom of the table to really build his confidence and show what has made him such a highly-rated defender by everyone at the club.

Made a crucial clearance in the first half to stop Jamie Vardy opening the scoring after a defensive mix-up, was thoroughly solid at the back with a strong aerial presence and composure on the ball.

Marc Cucurella – 9

It was a dynamic, energetic and ultimately goalscoring performance from the Spaniard who is all over the place, in a good way, for the Chels at the moment. 

One minute he’s defending his own box and holding up the Leicester attack, the next he’s bursting down the left and combining with Nkunku – blink and he’s playing as a shadow striker next to Neto. 

His positioning created chaos for Leicester, summarised no better than when he latched onto an Enzo Fernandez pass and rifled the ball low and hard into the bottom right corner to put his side in the lead. 

For my money, the best left-back in world football in what has been his most prolific goal scoring season to date. 

Moises Caicedo – 7

Was walking a tightrope from the start of the game, with a yellow card in this one holding the threat of him missing crucial upcoming games against Arsenal and Spurs. 

While often praised for his ball winning ability, which is beaten only by Barcelona’s Pedri in Europe’s top five leagues, it was his crisp passing and technical skill that stood out, a myriad of clever touches and bits of combination play that helped form attacks for his side. 

The Ecuadorian is arguably the Blues’ most important player.

Enzo Fernandez (c)  – 8

Chelsea’s midfield metronome has been in fantastic form of late, and put in another assured performance in the middle, which only helps his rapport with the Stamford Bridge faithful who have fallen in love with his passion and desire to succeed here. 

His passing was excellent and he looked the player most keen to drive his team forward with some hard running, but his performance came across somewhat stunted by a real lack of threat in front of him. 

That was of course, until Cucurella stepped up and smashed home to give him a deserved assist. 

Christopher Nkunku – 2

Still doesn’t look as though he’s really found his feet at Chelsea, despite a goal and assist in his last league game vs Southampton. 

The No18 would be best used either in Palmer’s position or as a second striker next to a target man like he was at his prolific best for RB Leipzig. 

Being stuck out on the left side, his pressing comes across lazy and while he often gets into the box, he is not the presence Chelsea need as they whip balls into the middle. 

Cole Palmer  – 5

Death, taxes and Palmer bagging pens – those things were all dead certain until today as Chelsea’s talisman missed his first ever Premier League penalty in the first half. 

After beginning the season as the man who doesn’t feel pressure, who has ice running through his veins, Cole now at times looks like he’s trying too hard.

Those things considered, he has been the victim of the sky-high standards we have grown to expect from him and most of his work is actually still to a very high level, with some neat bits of skill and good general build-up play. 

Don’t be surprised to see him back to his best when Chelsea have Nicolas Jackson back from injury. 

Jadon Sancho – 3

Played on the right-hand side of attack today and often left fans frustrated in the first-half by holding the ball for too long – not driving at defenders the way we have seen him do in the past. 

Did win the penalty that was missed by Palmer, and seemed to be given a lease of energy and life when his side took the lead in the second half. 

Fans would like to see more of Tyrique George in his place, who has shone in limited minutes on the wing this season, as it’s now 11 straight games without a goal or assist for the man on loan from Man Utd. 

Pedro Neto – 4

Deputised for the injured Jackson and Marc Guiu in the striker position as he did in the thrashing of Southampton two weeks ago.

Looked like the Karate Kid with a bandaged-up head after an early clash with Wout Faes. 

While he works hard, and came close with a low driven shot in the second-half, Chelsea are really asking a lot of him to lead the line against a physical Foxes backline and he struggled for large parts of the game. 

It wasn’t the dream 25th birthday he’d have had in mind, but I’m sure he’s more than pleased with three points. 

SUBS:

Tyrique George (Palmer, 73) – 5

Was given 20 or so minutes to try and add another goal to Chelsea’s lead, and fill a Palmer shaped void whom he replaced with Nkunku moving into the middle. 

This young man is adored by Stamford Bridge, with their affection towards him made obvious as the crowd around me stood to their feet for a sliding clearance in the final five minutes. 

The arrival of Brazil sensation Willian Estevao here next season may harm his minutes, but with more performances like today, don’t be surprised to see a player like him fight his case or shine on loan at a team like Strasbourg. 

Trevoh Chalobah (Fofana, 73) – 5

Will be fighting for his place in the starting XI once more now that Fofana has returned, but his defensive solidity will be welcomed depth, especially on days like today where his side were left with no natural right-back as James was ill.

Was strong in his challenges after being introduced, and made a few good blocks to see out the win and second successive league clean sheet which have been hard to come by at Stamford Bridge this season.

Josh Acheampong (Nkunku, 89) – 5

Bought on at the death to help his side see out the win and did so well, with a lot of pressure on the young man’s shoulders. 

TRAGIC teen Morgan Dorsett is the SEVENTH person confirmed to have been mauled to death by an XL Bully in the last year – as experts admit the ban hasn’t worked.

Morgan, 19, was killed by an XL Bully dog, understood to be owned by her cousin and weighing over eight stone, in Bristol last week.

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There have been seven XL Bully fatal attacks on people since the ban last February[/caption]

PA

Morgan Dorsett, 19, was killed last month[/caption]

JOHN McLELLAN

Mum Esther Martin[/caption]

There have been a total of 11 fatal dog attacks involving any breed since the Government banned XL Bullies on February 1 2024.

This means more than 60 percent – or nearly two thirds – of such deaths have been caused by the brutes, which are not recognised as an official breed by the UK Kennel Club.

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Brits killed by XL Bullies since last February…

Esther Martin (February 3, 2024)
Angeline Mahal (May 20, 2024)
David Daintree (August 20, 2024)
Nicholas Glass (August 21, 2024)
Savannah Bentham (November 1, 2024)
Michelle McLeod (December 7, 2024)
Morgan Dorsett (February 26, 2025)

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It comes after a map revealed the UK’s “danger dog” hotspots with 114 hell hounds seized in a week.

Earlier this year police chiefs warned the Bully legislation won’t be an “overnight fix”.

Under the change to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it became illegal to own an XL Bully without a certificate of exemption.

Then-PM Rishi Sunak had announced the ban following a flurry of attacks involving the breed.

Groups including the RSPCA and Dogs Trust also said the move would not stop the attacks, pointing to a “lack of data” to support such an assumption.

Meanwhile, Chief Constable Mark Harborough admitted in January the National Police Chiefs’ Council were yet to see any evidence the legislation change had led to a reduction in incidents.

And Patrick O’Hara, the NPCC’s tactical lead for dangerous dogs, added no forces have reported a reduction in incidents and many are putting in additional staff to cope with the extra demand.

ESTHER MARTIN

Grandmother Esther Martin, 68, suffered unsurvivable injuries after she was set upon by the dogs Bear and Beauty in Jaywick, Essex, on February 3 last year.

She was reportedly trying to break up the dogs with a broom as they fought before they turned on her.

The two adult dogs are said to have launched their attack in a back room as Esther’s horrified 11-year-old grandson fled the property to raise the alarm.

Both animals were destroyed at the scene and later confirmed to be XL Bullies.

Esther’s cause of death was previously given as “dog bite wounds to the upper right limb”.

ANGELINE MAHAL

The tragic death of Angeline Mahal, in her 50s and from Hornchurch, on May 24 2024 was at least the 13th life claimed by the banned breed in the UK in the three years. 

The mum-of-two, who had raised the dogs since they were puppies, was found dead in the hallway of her home by her sons after the “awful attack”.

An unnamed family member told the Daily Mail they would “always urge her to give up the dogs” – especially after Esther’s death three months earlier. 

DAVID DAINTREE

Lonely widower David Daintree, 53, was fatally attacked by an XL Bully he’d been looking after at his home in Accrington, Lancashire, on August 20 last year.

His daughter Joanne said she’d begged her dad to get rid of the pet days before his death.

She told The Sun: “As soon as I knew it was an XL Bully I told him to get rid of it.”

David’s beloved wife Sharon had died in July 2021, leaving the widower lonely and in need of a companion.

Young mum Joanne said: “He was lonely because the love of his life was no longer here and he didn’t know what to do with himself.”

NICHOLAS GLASS

Nicholas Glass, 32, was found dead in the garden of a relative’s property on Hereford Close in Rednal, Birmingham, in the early hours of August 21 2024.

It’s believed up to four dogs were present at the time he was attacked.

A post-mortem has since revealed he died as a result of dog bite injuries, cops said.

Two of the dogs were seized by police at the scene and the remaining pair were found following a two day hunt.

In a statement his family said: “In Nicholas we’ve lost a loving son, brother and uncle who was adored by all of his family and friends.”

SAVANNAH BENTHAM

10-year-old Savannah Bentham was mauled to death by her family’s “new pet” inside their caravan near Malton, North Yorkshire, on November 1 last year.

The youngster had been happily playing on swings in a park nearby just before the horror.

Savannah’s family issued a heartwrenching statement released by North Yorkshire Police.

It read: “We can’t believe we have lost our wonderful girl who we love so much.”

Locals had described the harrowing moment the youngster’s mother ran out screaming “my baby’s dead”.

MICHELLE MCLEOD

Michelle McLeod, 41, was savaged by an XL Bully called Bailey on December 7 2024.

Her grieving family said: “She was a much-loved mother, daughter and friend to many and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.”

Neighbours told of their shock at the horror inside Michelle’s second floor flat in Aberdeen.

One said: “The dog got taken out for one walk a day just outside the flat. That was never going to be enough for a dog that size.

“Sadly this is how it’s ended.”

It’s thought Michelle had got Bailey less than a year before her death.

MORGAN DORSETT

Morgan Dorsett, 19, from Shropshire, was attacked by XL Bully dog Prince, and died at the scene on February 26.

A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested following the horror before being released on bail.

The dog’s owner, Kelcie Jones, had asked members of Facebook group XL Bullys and Large Breeds for a Bristol-based expert in November last year due to its bad behaviour.

The dog, which is estimated to have weighed 8st, attacked Morgan while she was staying at her relative’s flat in Cobhorn Drive in Withywood, south Bristol.

In her post, Kelcie said: “Any1 recommend good trainers around the Bristol area?

“Got a 50-55kg boy main issue is pulling and hyper-fixating on things. (Tried all the main training tips and equipment). Tia x.”

It came after claims the dog had tried to attack a neighbour three weeks before.

XL Bully owner Sophie Coulthard previously told The Independent: “The PM [Rishi Sunak] said it was important to keep the public safe, but this ban has not kept the public safe.

“We said all along it was a knee-jerk reaction and that there was an opportunity for real reform in the UK and much better legislation, and this [the data] shows that.”

A spokesperson for Dogs Trust said: “We do not believe that banning further types of dog is an effective or sustainable solution to protecting public safety.

“Breed specific legislation fails to deliver what it was designed to do. It has not reduced hospital admissions from dog bites, it has not improved public safety and it has not reduced the number of dogs conforming to the breeds or types it legislates against.”

Last summer RSPCA’s dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said: “This current approach is not working, as is evident by these figures, and needs a complete overhaul, not only to better protect public safety but also to ensure good dog welfare.”

The ban has so far cost police an estimated £25million in vet and kennel fees alone, according to the NPCC.

At the end of last year, one of the largest dog marketplaces Puppies.co.uk sent Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to police forces across the UK.

It found just under 6,000 dangerous dogs had been seized by 27 forces in the 12 months from November 2023.

This meant 114 dogs are seized each week across the nation on average.

A spokesperson for Puppies.co.uk said: “While the recent data on dog seizures is concerning, it’s crucial to remember that focusing on breed-specific bans is not the answer to promoting public safety.

“The Dangerous Dogs Act has been in effect for over three decades and yet, hospital admissions due to dog bites continue to rise.

“Instead of focusing on breed, the emphasis should be on addressing the root causes of dog aggression, which generally stem from irresponsible ownership and breeding practices.”

They added: “Dogs, regardless of breed, can exhibit aggressive behaviour if they are not properly trained, socialised, and cared for.

“Tighter breeding legislation and increased resources for enforcement are necessary to combat the rise of illegal and low-welfare breeders who prioritise profit over the well-being of the animals.”

It came after cops issued an urgent warning to dog owners to “step up before someone dies” after 13 horrific attacks in less than 48 hours.

South Yorkshire Police said incidents of dangerous dogs included a man left with serious facial injuries and a woman fearing for her baby’s safety.

Collect

David Daintree with his daughter Joanne and late wife Sharon, and granddaughter Skylar-Louise[/caption]

West Midlands Police

Nicholas Glass[/caption]

A SHOOTOUT for WHSmith has begun, as two major brands hope to take over the 233-year-old retailer.

The move comes weeks after it was revealed that WHSmith’s holding company was looking to offload its 500 UK shops.

Alamy

WHSmiths is a high street stalwart, having served customers since 1792.

The brand is known for its range of magazines, stationary and books.

Like many major high street chains, WHSmiths has struggled to adapt to the

Now, two rival groups are gearing up to take over the retailer.

The first is Alteri, which owns Bensons for Beds and made headlines when it took control of Missguided in 2021.

However, Missguided was on the “brink of collapse” just a year later and eventually went into administration.

It was later bought out by the Frasers Group.

The other company is Modella, which owns Hobbycraft and The Original Factory shop.

A definitive deal will likely be announced when WHSmith’s interim results are revealed in April.

After offloading their 500 high street shops, the brand is reportedly hoping to focus on its more lucrative travel retailers.

WHSmiths is extremely popular in busy airports, railway stations and hospitals.

It has 1,200 of these stores globally.

The retailer has already shut several of its stores this year as it begins to make the transition.

10 of their UK high street stores have been earmarked for closure in 2025, with locations ranging from London to Durham.

WHSmith have been contacted for comment on the rumours.

IRISH middle-distance star Mark English produced a stunning performance to claim bronze in the men’s 800m final at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn.

The Donegal man, a seasoned championship performer, battled through a fiercely competitive field to secure his third European indoor medal, adding to his previous successes in 2015 (silver) and 2019 (bronze).

English, 30, delivered a typically measured race, positioning himself perfectly before unleashing his trademark late surge down the home straight.

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